Senior City of Johannesburg official axed for tender fraud

A senior official of the City of Johannesburg has been axed for alleged tender fraud.

This is according to Andrew Stewart, a strategic adviser in the office of the Member of the Mayoral Committee in the Department of Economic Development.

Stewart says the official in charge of trade and investment projects had allegedly been engaging in serious misconduct, awarding tenders to their own private company and had acted without consulting with the City.

“The official engaged in private business without prior consent from the City, breached our code of ethics, influenced procurement decisions for their own benefit and acted against the interests of the City,” stewart said in a statement.

He said this proves Mayor Herman Mashaba’s strict stance against corruption as he expects employees to hold the highest standards and ethical norms.

“Major steps have been taken over the past few months in combating corruption across the City. These steps include imparting a culture of accountability and responsiveness to those serving the people of Johannesburg‚” he continued.

In 2017, The Star published a report alleging that a senior official had been enriching one of his pals by sending lucrative tenders his way.

The mayor’s office Spokesperson Luyanda Mfeka gave assurances that the allegations were taken in a serious light and that the matter had been referred to an independent forensic investigation.

“Major steps have been taken over the past few months in combating corruption across the City. These steps include imparting a culture of accountability and responsiveness to those serving the people of Johannesburg‚” Mfeka wrote.